Transaction-Based Fuel Purchase Authorization
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle;
transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and
obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.
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Abstract
Techniques for authorizing fuel purchases based on vehicle available fuel tank capacity. The authorization may be performed on a transaction basis, such that each fueling event may be independently authorized. A current fuel tank capacity for the vehicle is obtained, and transmitted to an authorization entity. An authorization is obtained for dispensing a quantity of fuel that does not exceed the current fuel tank capacity.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle; transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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calculating a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle based on a difference between a previously known fuel tank level for the vehicle and a calculated fuel consumption based at least on estimated fuel consumption rate and distance traveled; providing the calculated current fuel tank capacity to an authorization module; receiving an authorization of a quantity of authorized fuel from the authorization module; and making the authorization of the quantity of authorized fuel available at the vehicle to limit a quantity of dispensed fuel to the quantity of authorized fuel.
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a fuel tank level indication for a fuel tank in a vehicle; storage to at least temporarily store a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; a processor configured to calculate a quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank based on at least the fuel tank level indication and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an authorization request to an authorization entity to obtain authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus comprising:
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means for obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle; means for transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and means for obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.
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32. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computer system for performing steps comprising:
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obtaining a current fuel tank capacity for a vehicle; transmitting the current fuel tank capacity to an authorization entity; and obtaining an authorization for dispensing a quantity of fuel not exceeding the current fuel tank capacity.
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33. A system comprising:
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an onboard computing device on a vehicle, comprising; a receiver configured to receive a fuel tank level indication for a fuel tank in a vehicle; storage to at least temporarily store a total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; a processor configured to calculate a quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank based on at least the fuel tank level indication and the total fuel tank capacity of the fuel tank; and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an authorization request to an authorization entity to obtain authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank; and a fuel dispensing mechanism coupled to receive the authorization to purchase fuel for no more than the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank, and to disable dispensing of the fuel after the quantity of fuel that would fill the fuel tank has been dispensed.
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Specification